This past week, Juneteenth, the day marking the end of slavery in the United States, officially became a federal holiday.
Eddie Glaude Jr., a prominent scholar, author and political commentator, spoke at a virtual discussion about Juneteenth hosted by Sinclair College this past Friday.
Glaude says there’s a dangerous trend among some Americans of ignoring the role that slavery played in the country’s history.
"There are some among us who are resisting the idea of us telling a full story of American history," said Glaude, "So to make Juneteenth a national holiday is to, in some ways, counter that argument.”
Glaude says the federal recognition of the holiday is an important step in acknowledging the country’s history of slavery, but it doesn’t do anything to address the structural inequities Black people still face in the country.
“Let’s not get it twisted — symbolic politics matter," said Glaude. "But substantive policy changes things.”
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine followed the federal government’s lead and has named Juneteenth a state holiday as well.